Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Oh yeah I learned real quick that my lightweight backpacking tent is not the most comfortable set up for car camping. You can get a real nice 4 person or bigger for what my 3lb backpacking tent cost.

Looking forward to breaking in the bed tent and big air mattress in a few weeks doing trail magic for the azt thru hikers

 

Last few weekends I've been using this.. works great for cold weather camping..lol

 

Also don't know if I've posted an update in a while. Ankle is healing up getting into the meat of PT now. Still have a long way to go. My PT thinks it's a long shot for me to resume the AZT in the fall, but I'll be working my ass off to make it happen. Don't want to postpone it again.

Just one more for the collection

 

I've forgotten what your surgery was for, but: if you have your strength and range of motion near normal you'd have a good chance for doing the trail. Oh you might have to have a pretty high tolerance for pain too.

Keep working on the PT! and smile at your therapist a lot!

 

Torn peroneus brevis tendon 2inch and ruptured ligament.

I'm pretty confident I'll be back in the fall. Have 50 miles or so of flat rocky terrain to ease back into it then it's back to back 5000 foot climbs

 

I wish I had taken more care of ankle sprains when I was younger.

 

Yeah one of the many joys of getting older, we pay for the brazenness of our youth

 

I'm really having fun getting this Alu-Cab tent and awning dressed up for the truck. Decided to go with the bare aluminum finish so I could have my paint guy do the same color match bedliner coating on it that he did to my truck exterior. It's all sanded and prepped to be sprayed today after they install the awning brackets for me, and I'll pick it up Friday. I got the quilted lid liner with the pockets and also the 12v lighting and USB port option with this tent and I'm glad I did or I would have already ordered them to add on.

Whole tent sanded and masked ready for coating today. Just coating the wide flat areas and making sure not to coat any latches, hinges, rail systems, etc. The whole top is diamondplate aluminum with its own rail system and will also be coated as well as the sides and lip up to the rubber gasket weatherstripping so it looks clean when closed.



Under-lid quilted insulation layer with large pockets for storing crap.



12V system upgrade that either hard wires or connects to my lighter socket and gives me 2 flex lights and powered USB ports to charge with.



Carefully masked all of the hardware and rails



Placed and marked the awning brackets. These require drilling and bolting on before coating. The brackets will be coated all around except for the bolt heads and the front face where the awning mounts up.

 

Is there a big difference between the kingdom air bed and the kingdom sleep 40 system from rei? Debating if I should spring the extra 100 for the sleep 40 system. Thanks

 

There are plenty of people like you who go out and buy all this stuff and find they do not have room to store it, didn't like the experience, or get better stuff; so i think craigslist/offerup and the like for your items is the best way to go. Also the cheapest. Have fun at Big Sur!

 

Yeah I’m waiting on the garage sale at rei, it’s happening in two weeks so hopefully I’ll get some gear for cheap. Planning on Yosemite and Grand Canyon this year hopefully.

 

I am a member at REI and have purchased many items there and it is an expensive place to buy simple basics. I did a quick search on craigslist and found this https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/for/d/huntington-beach-tents-sleeping-bags/6798409340.html . Yosemite takes reservations 5 months in advance and they fill up quickly so if your going this summer, get on it now. Good luck!

 

Wrapped myself in my woobie, then got inside my 20 degree bag, which was inside my bivy this weekend. It was pretty cold outside, and I had to vent because I was warm when I went to bed, but I was on fire around 2AM.

 

Get there really early. 5AM or so is just ok for my local store, most of the time. The point is to be in the 1st group going in, and know what you are looking for. Know information about what you want before you go.
Know the sizes of stuff you want, too. A backpack that does not fit sucks big time. Too small of a sleeping bag is even worse.
Sleeping bag temp ratings. What do you need? Down or synthetic?
Different sleeping pads and the advantages of each.
Can some stuff that is broken be fixed?
Exped pads are at my store all the time. Expensive and OH SO comfortable.
What tent do you need?

In other words, you have 2 weeks to do some homework. Go to bed early the night before. Have a chair, a light, a jacket, and anything else to brave the weather while you wait outside with other nutty people.

Years ago I had showed up on Wed for a Sat sale at the old REI in Seattle. Mid 90s. I have gotten a No 1 and a No 3 ticket for it. Those were good days. 20 dollar climbing boots, Karhu 10th Mtn skis, etc. I quit doing that when the cops started getting called.

 

I personally do not like air beds. They are cold.

 

I’ve been pretty happy with this.

https://www.bigagnes.com/Insulated-Air-Core-Ultra?size=12&custcol15=1

 

Yes, that is insulated. I consider insulated different than an air bed.

 

Painted to match the truck and ready for pickup and install in the morning. Awning gets installed to it on Sunday.

 

Just clicked YES to the Lunar Solo & Lunar Duo. My wife and I have a 2 & 3 night Thru Hikes planned. And I am gearing up for My NH AP hike in August.

 

Air mattress came in for my bed tent. Pretty comfy for 1. If I can start talking the wife into camping with me I'd probably upgrade to the full bed ones with the wheel well cut outs.

REI dividends hit in the next few weeks should have a solid one this year. Just have no ideas what to get. A lightweight 0 degree bag would be nice but not a super high priority. Might just wait to see how my ankle feels in trail runners if sketchy might upgrade to a 3/4 boot.